Vehicular track measuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course, having: means for generating a voltage proportional to a distance along the longitudinal axis of the course between a track measurement starting plane on the course and the vehicle by generating standing radio waves above the course and counting the number thereof; and means for generating a voltage proportional to an angle contained by a reference vertical plane with respect to the course and another vertical plane with respect to the course intersecting the reference vertical plane and the vehicle by scanning the course rotatively with a laser beam from the line of intersection of these two vertical planes and measuring the time required for scanning the angle.

United States Patent 1 Sato et al.

[ 1 Jan. 16, 1973 [54] VEHICULAR TRACK MEASURING APPARATUS Inventors:Kazuo Sato; Takashi Aoki, both of Toyota, Japan [73] Assignee: ToyotaJidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi, Japan Filed: Nov. 23, 1970Appl. No.: 91,764

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 25, 1969 Japan ..44/93936U.S. Cl ..356/152, 340/24, 343/112 D Int. Cl. ..G0lb 11/26 Field ofSearch....356/l4l, 152; 340/24, 27 NA;

343/112 S, 112 D, 106 R; 350/6, 7

Primd ryExaniinerBenjamin A. Bo rche lt Assistant Examiner--S. C.Buczinski AttorneyStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [5 7] ABSTRACTApparatus for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course,having: means for generating a voltage proportional to a distance alongthe longitudinal axis of the course between a track measurement startingplane on the course and the vehicle by generating standing radio wavesabove the course and counting the number thereof; and means forgenerating a volt- 17 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures MEASUREMENT SECTION OFTEST COURSE [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,398 9/1968Lapeyre et al. ..343/l06 R 1,562,485 11/1925 Affel ..343/l l2 S SIGNALGENERATOR i 24 RADIO TRANSMITTER g 33 LASER OSCILLATOR HIGH-FREQLENCYOSCILLATOR \TEST COURSE PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3. 7 1. l. 203

' sum 1 0F 7 I MEASUREMENT SECTION OF TEST cOuRsE FIG. l

rlOO 3/ ,4 LASER s OSCILLATOR ,32 s| ;N HIGH-FREQUENCY GENERATOROSCILLATOR 1 RADIO TRANSMITTER TEST COURSE INVENTORS KAZUO SATO TAKASHIAOKI PATENTEDJAH 16 I973 3.71 l. 203

sum 2 [IF 7 FIG. 2C]

FIG. 20 o FIG. 2d o M FIG.

FIG;

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

PATENTEU JAN 1 6 I973 SHEEI 3 BF 7 PATENTEU JAN 15 1973 SHEET 7 or 7VEH'ICULAR TRACK MEASURING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION vehiclewith respect to a test course on which the vehi- 1O cle runs byproviding standing radio waves above the course and counting the numberthereof, and means for generating a voltage indicative of a lateralposition of the vehicle with respect to the course by providing ascanning laser beam above the course and measuring a scanning timethereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Tracks of the motor vehicles must bemeasured in various tests of the motor vehicles, such as maneuverabilitytests, side wind stability tests, brake tests, and so The conventionalmethod for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course is amethod wherein a track printing apparatus mounted on the vehicle printsthe track of the vehicle directly on the course surface with ink, andthen test engineers or technicians measure the printed track and recordthe track on a paper on a reduced scale. The disadvantage of this methodis that the real-time processing of data obtained by this method isimpossible, and further that the measurement of the printed track takesa long time thereby preventing speedy operation of the tests.

The following two apparatus are usable for the realtime measurement ofthe track of a vehicle: one is an inertial navigational apparatusincluding a gyroscope and a computer, which measures the acceleration ofthe vehicle and then computes the velocity and the track of the vehicleby integration of the acceleration and the velocity respectively; andthe other is an optical-electronic apparatus including apparatus formeasuring azimuth angle optically and a computer, which measures angularbearings of the vehicle from two or more base points on the ground andcomputes the track of the vehicle using the result of the angularbearing measurement. Although these two apparatus have an advantage thatthe measurement of the track can be made in real time as mentioned asabove, these two apparatus have a serious disadvantage as vehiculartrack measuring apparatus, which nullify the above-mentioned advantage.This disadvantage is that the obtained result by these two apparatuslacks the accuracy required for the motor vehicle tests.

Therefore, apparatus which can measure the track of a vehicle running ona test course in real time with the required accuracy has been sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to apparatus formeasuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course.

The track of a vehicle is measured by generating a voltage indicativeofa longitudinal position of the vehicle which is a position of thevehicle along the longitudinal axis of the course, and the other voltageindicative of a lateral position of the vehicle which is a position ofthe vehicle along the lateral axis of the course.

The voltage indicative of a longitudinal position of the vehicle isproduced by generating above the course standing radio waves, countingthe .number of the standing radio waves crossed by the vehicle, andgenerating a voltage proportional to the counting result.

The standing radio waves are generated by a highfrequency oscillator,and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to the high-frequencyoscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center lineof the course at both ends of the course facing each other. Apparatusmounted on the vehicle and comprising a pulse generator, a firstcounter, and a first digitalanalog converter counts the number of thestanding radio waves and generates the voltage proportional to theresult of the counting.

The voltage indicative of a lateral position of the vehicle is producedby scanning the course with a laser beam at a constant angular speedmeasured in a horizontal plane with respect to the course, measuring atime between the instant when the laser beam hits a first laser beamdetector disposed on the ground and the instant when the laser beam.hits a second laser beam detector mounted on the vehicle, and generatinga voltage proportional to the measured time. The vertical plane withrespect to the course containing the first laser beam detector and arotation center of the laser beam is a reference vertical plane. Sincethe laser beam has a constant angular speed measured in a horizontalplane with respect to the course, the voltage proportional to themeasured time is proportional to an angle contained by the referencevertical plane and a vertical plane with respect to the coursecontaining the rotation center of the laser beam and the second laserbeam detector.

, Mathematically, the position of the vehicle on the test course iscompletely determined by the longitudinal position of the vehicle andthe above-mentioned angle.

The scanning of the laser beam is done by a laser beam scanner. A firstsignal generator is connected to the first laser beam detector togenerate a signal when the laser beam hits the first laser beamdetector. A radio transmitter is connected to the first signal generatorto transmit the signal to the vehicle. Apparatus mounted on the vehicleand comprising a signal receiver, the second laser beam detector, asecond signal generator, a clock pulse generator, a second counter, ashift register, and a second digital-analog converter generates thevoltage proportional to the angle contained by the reference verticalplane and the vertical plane containing the laser beam rotation centerand the second laser beam detector.

For further practical use, a voltage proportional to a distance alongthe lateral axis of the course from the vehicle to the referencevertical plane is produced by multiplying a voltage proportional to adistance from the laser beam rotation center to a plane perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the course and passing through the vehicle bythe voltage proportional to the angle contained by the referencevertical plane and the vertical plane containing the laser beam rotationcenter and the second laser beam detector.

This multiplication is made by a multiplier connected to the seconddigital-analog converter and to an analog adding circuit. The analogadding circuit is connected to the first digital-analog converter and apotentiometer and produces the voltage proportional to the distance fromthe laser beam rotation center to the plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the course and passing through the vehicle.

When the above-mentioned multiplication is made, the distance from thelaser beam rotation center to the vehicle must be sufficiently large soas to prevent the error of substitution of an angle for the tangent ofthe same angle from exceeding a given limit.

The voltage indicative of a longitudinal position of the vehicle and thevoltage proportional to the distance along the lateral axis of thecourse from the vehicle to the reference vertical plane may be fed to aX-Y plotter for the real-time drawing of track of the'vehicle on apaper, or may be put with such other test data as the elapsed time,steering angle of the vehicle, velocity and direction of the windblowing above the course into a computer for further real-timeprocessing or into recorders such as magnetic tape recorders for record-The voltage proportional to the angle contained by the referencevertical plane and the vertical plane containing the laser beam rotationcenter and the second laser beam detector may also be used for real-timeprocessing or recording.

If an angle contained by the longitudinal axis of the course and thereference vertical plane is zero or small, the track of the vehicledrawn on a paper by feeding the voltage indicative of a longitudinalposition of the vehicle and the voltage proportional to the distancealong the lateral axis of the course from the vehicle to the referencevertical plane to the X-Y plotter deviates little from the actual trackof the vehicle (when the angle contained by the longitudinal axis of thecourse and the reference vertical plane is zero, the deviation is dueonly to the error of the substitution of the angle contained by thereference vertical plane and the plane containing the laser beamrotation center and the second laser beam detector for the tangent ofthe same angle). However, when the angle contained by the longitudinalaxis of the course and the reference vertical plane is big, the voltageproportional to the distance along the lateral axis of the course fromthe vehicle to the reference vertical plane must be processed in thecomputer so as to be changed to a voltage proportional to the distancealong the lateral axis of the course from the vehicle to a verticalplane with respect to the course parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe course and containing the laser beam rotation center before thevoltages are fed to the X-Y plotter for drawing the track of the vehicleon a paper.

The result thus obtained by the apparatus of this invention issufficiently accurate for the motor vehicle tests. '.Ftmfilhffdmsfins.the apparatus of t inve tion has the advantage of real-time measuring ofthe track of the vehicle as well as the advantage of accuratemeasurement of the track of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehiculartrack measuring apparatus disposed with respect to a test course onwhich the measurement of a vehicular track is made according to theinvention.

FIG. 2a through 2] are drawings showing wave forms which appear in thevehicular track measuring apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a laser beam scanner according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view ofa cross section AA of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a signal processing device of thisinvention mounted on a vehicle whose track is measured.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a pulse generator which is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7a through 7e are plan views showing dispositions of the laser beamscanner and a laser beam detector, which are shown in FIG. 1, withrespect to a track measuring section of the test course. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The longitudinal axis of thetest course on which the measurement of a vehicular track is made ishereinafter called the X axis. The lateral axis of the same test courseis hereinafter called the Y axis. However, the use of the longitudinalaxis and the lateral axis is made wherever more appropriate.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of transmitting antennas l and 1 aredisposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of and at theboth ends of the test course facing each other and connected to a VHF orUHF high-frequency oscillator 2 by feeders 3 and 3' respectively togenerate above the test course between the antennas standing VHF or UHFradio waves with a fixed wave length as determined by the frequency ofthe high-frequency oscillator 2. Synchronization of the waves radiatedfrom the antennas 1 and 1' is necessary to generate standing radiowaves. To synchronize the waves, the output of the same oscillator 2must be fed to the antennas 1 and 1 by feeders 3 and 3'.

If long feeders are to be used, a subharmonic of the high-frequencyoscillator 2 is usually fed to the vicinity of the antennas and thenmultiplied there to become the synchronized high-frequency waves havingthe required frequency.

The frequency or wave length of the standing waves is selected after dueconsideration of the required accuracy necessary for the measurement ofthe vehicular track.

A receiving antenna 110 which is a component of a signal processingdevice mounted on a vehicle 40 whose track is being measured catches thestanding waves.

A laser oscillator 4 projects a laser beam 5 parallel to the Y axis. Avertical plane with respect to the course containing the laser beam 5 isa track measurement starting plane from which the track measurement bythe signal processing device 100 is started. Points of intersection ofthe track measurement starting plane and two boundary side lines of thetest course are points T and S respectively. A laser beam detector 131which is a component of the signal processing device 100 detects thelaser beam 5.

A laser beam scanner 10 scans the test course with a laser beam 24. Thelaser beam 24 moves at a constant angular velocity in a horizontal planewith respect to the course. A laser beam detector 31 is disposed on theground and connected to a signal generator 32. When the laser beam 24hits the laser beam detector 31, the

- signal generator 32 produces an electric signal S,. The

signal generator 32 is connected to a radio transmitter 33 which sendsthe signal S to a transmitting antenna 35 by way of a feeder 34. Thesignal S, is transmitted from the antenna 35. The laser beam detector 31comprises a photoelectric cell (not shown in the drawing), and thesignal generator 32 comprises a pulse amplifier and a saturationamplifier (both not shown in the drawing). A receiving antenna 211 whichis a component of the signal processing device 100 catches the signal8,.

A vertical plane 27 with respect to the course containing a rotationcenter 23 of the laser beam 24 and the laser beam detector 31 is areference vertical plane.

A laser beam detector 213 which is a component of the signal processingdevice 100 detects the laser beam 24. The time 7 between the instantwhen the antenna 211 receives the signal S and the instant when thelaser beam 24 hits the laser beam detector 213 is measured by the signalprocessing device 100. Since the laser beam 24 moves at a constantangular velocity in a horizontal plane with respect to the course, thetime 1 is proportional to an angle 6 contained by the reference verticalplane 27 and a vertical plane with respect to the course containing thelaser beam 24. In this case, of course, the time between the instantwhen the laser beam 24 hits the laser beam detector 31 and the instantwhen the antenna 211 receives the signal S is neglected.

In this embodiment, the electric signal S, is used in order to send asignal indicating the detection of the laser beam 24 by the laser beamdetector 31 to the signal processing device 100. The signal indicatingthe detection of the laser beam 24 by the laser beam detector 31 can betransmitted to the signal processing device 100 by another kind ofmethod such as a light modulation method.

The laser beam scanner 10 has a structure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Alaser beam oscillator 18 supported by a frame 19 which is attached to aframe 17 generates a laser beam 22. The laser beam 22 has a wave lengthof 6,328 A (red light) and is focussed (the diameter of the beam is 20millimeters at a point 500 meters distant from the oscillator 18). Theoutput of the oscillator 18 is more than I milliwatt. Sixteen planemirrors 11 each of which is 50 millimeters wide and 40 millimeters highare mounted on a disc 12 at regular intervals with their reflectivesurfaces being parallel to an axis of rotation 21 of the disc andcontacting an inscribed circle concentric with the rotation axis 21. Therotation axis 21 is vertical with respect to the course. The disc 12 isattached to a shaft 13 rotatively supported by the frame 17 and having atoothed pulley 14. The pulley 14 is driven by way of a toothed belt 15by a synchronous motor 16 supported by the frame 17. The rotation speedof the disc is 900 r.p.m. The laser beam 22 is reflected at a point 23on the surface of the mirror 11 to become the scanning laser beam 24.This point 23 is the laser beam rotation center 23 shown in FIG. 1. Thepoint 23 in FIG. 3 moves a little as the disc 12 rotates, but the point23 can be considered fixed from practical viewpoint. The laser beamoscillator 18 is disposed so that the distance between the axis 21 andthe extension of the centerline of the laser beam 22 is 40 millimeters.The frame 17 is disposed on the ground and is adjustable so that theupper surface of the frame 17 becomes horizontal with respect to thecourse. Levels 25 and 26 are attached on the upper surface of the frame17. The laser beam scanner 10 is so precisely constructed as a wholethat the total amplitude of vertical deflection of the laser beam 24 maynot exceed 40 millimeters at a point 1,000 meters distant from the laserbeam rotation center 23.

In this embodiment, the laser beam 24 moves only within a horizontalplane with respect to the course, provided that no deflection of thelaser beam exists. However, it is possible to swing the laser beam 24intentionally in vertical directions with high-frequency at the sametime, while the laser beam 24 moves at a constant angular velocitymeasured in a horizontal plane with respect to the course, whereby thefailure of detection of the laser beam 24 by the laser beam detectors 31and 213 is prevented.

Referring to FIG. 2a through 2j and FIG. 5, the structure and operationof the signal processing device 100 is described below.

In FIG. 5, a part separated from the other part by broken lines anddesignated as is a part which produces a voltage indicative of thelongitudinal position of the vehicle. The other part designated as X isa part which produces voltage indicative of the lateral position of thevehicle.

First, the part X is described below.

A pulse generator 120 is connected to the receiving antenna 110 by wayof a connector 111. The pulse generator 120 generates an electric pulseP,, as shown in FIG. 2b, every time the receiving antenna 110 catches acyclic change of absolute value of the electric field intensity of thestanding radio waves as the vehicle moves. In other words, one pulse Pis produced for every half-wave of the standing radio waves as thevehicle moves. The standing radio waves are shown in FIG. 2a.

The pulse generator comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, a radio frequencyamplifier 121 connected with the connector 111, a mixer 122 connected tothe radio frequency amplifier 121, a local oscillator 123 connected tothe mixer 122, an intermediate frequency amplifier 124 connected to the:mixer 122, a detector 125 connected to the intermediate frequencyamplifier 124, a saturation amplifier 126 connected to the detector 125,a Schmidt trigger 127 connected to the saturation amplifier 126, adifferentiator 128 connected to the Schmidt trigger 127, and a connector129 connected to the differentiator 128.

A signal generator 132 is connected to the laser beam detector 131 andgenerates an electric pulse P as shown in FIG. 2c, when the laser beam 5hits the laser beam detector 131. The laser beam detector 131 comprisesa photoelectric cell, and the signal generator 132 comprises a pulseamplifier and a saturation amplifier. (The above-mentioned photoelectriccell, pulse amplifier, and saturation amplifier are not shown in thedrawing.) The signal generator 132 is connected to an input connector141 of a flip-flop circuit 140. An output connector 143 of the flip-flopcircuit 140 is connected to an input connector 152 of an AND gate 150.The output connector 129 of the pulse generator 120 is connected with asecond input connector 151 of the AND gate 150. A clearing signallgenerator is connected to a second input connector 142 of the flip-flopcircuit 140. The clearing signal generator 135 generates an electricsignal S when a man pushes a button 136 included in the clearing signalgenerator 135. The flip-flop circuit 140 generates a continuous electricsignal S after the circuit 140 receives the pulse P until the circuit140 receives the signal S The AND gate 150 passes the pulse P by way ofan output connector 153 thereof as long as the signal S is fed to theinput connector 152 thereof.

A counter 160 is connected to the output connector 153 of the AND gate150. The counter 160 counts the number of the pulse I and records thenumber in the form of electric signals until the next one pulse P iscounted. The counter 160 is preferably a decimal counter.

A digital-analog converter 170 (hereinafter designated as the D-Aconverter 170) is connected to the counter 160. The D-A converter 170generates a voltage E proportional to the number recorded in the counter160. The voltage E which is shown in FIG. 2d, is a voltage proportionalto the distance from the receiving antenna 110 mounted on the vehicle40, as shown in FIG. 1, to the track measurement starting plane and issupplied to a terminal 172 by way of an output connector 171 of the D-Aconverter 170. The D-A converter 170 is of a known type. Morespecifically, if the counter 160 is a decimal counter, the D-A converter170 is of Kelvin-Varley circuit type as described in page 51 ofDesigning with Linear Integrated Circuits by J. Eimbinder, MactierPublishing Corp., New York, 1969, and in page 262 ofElectronic Testingby L. L. Farkus, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1966.

The clearing signal generator 135 is also connected to counter 160. Thecounter 160 clears the recorded number therein, when the signal S is fedthereto. Consequently, E, becomes zero, when the signal s is fed to thecounter 160.

The part X is next described below.

The receiving antenna 211 is connected to a signal receiver 212. Whenthe antenna 211 catches the signal S and supplies the signal S, to thesignal receiver 212, the signal receiver 212 produces an electric pulseP as shown in FIG. 2e. The signal receiver 212 is'connected to an inputconnector 221 of a flip-flop circuit 220. The laser beam detector 213 isconnected to a signal generator 214. The signal generator 214 producesan electric pulse P, as shown in FIG. 2f, when the laser beam 24 hitsthe laser beam detector 213. The aforementioned time T is shown in FIG.2f. The laser beam detector 213 comprises a photoelectric cell (notshown in the drawing), and the signal generator 214 comprises a pulseamplifier and a saturation amplifier (both are not shown in thedrawing). The signal generator 214 is connected to a second inputconnector 222 of the flipflop circuit 220. An output connector 223 ofthe flipflop circuit 220 is connected to an input connector 241 of anAND gate 240. A second output connector 224 of the flip-flop circuit 220is connected to an input connector 272 of a shift register 270. Theoutput connector 224 is also connected to an input connector 262 ofa'counter 260 by way of a delay circuit 250. A clock pulse generator 230is connected to a second input connector 242 of the AND gate 240. Anoutput connector 243 of the AND gate 240 is connected with a secondinput connector 261 of the counter 260. An output connector 263 of thecounter 260 is connected with a second input connector 271 of the shiftregister 270. An output connector 274 of the shift register 270 isconnected to a digital-analog converter 280 (hereinafter designated asthe D-A converter 280). An output connector 281 of the D-A converter 280is connected to an terminal 282.

The flip-flop circuit 220 supplies a continuous electric signal S to theinput connector 241 of the AND gate 240 through the output connector 223after the circuit 220 receives the pulse I through the input connector221 until the circuit 220 receives the pulse 1, through the inputconnector 222. During this period no signal appears in the outputconnector 224. The clock pulse generator 230 produces clock pulses P asshown in FIG. 2g, which is supplied to the AND gate 240. The AND gate240 passes the clock pulses P to the counter 260 as long as the signal Sis supplied to the gate 240. The counter 260 counts the number of theclock pulses P and records the number in the form of electric signalsuntil the next one clock pulse P comes in. When the pulse P, is suppliedto the flip-flop circuit 220, the flip-flop circuit 220 stops supplyingthe signal S to the AND gate 240 as mentioned before, and at the sametime supplies an electric signal S to the input connector 272 of theshift register 270 and to the delay circuit 250. When the signal S issupplied to the input connector 272, the shift register 270 records thenumber recorded in the counter 260 through the input connector 271cancelling simultaneously the number previously recorded in the register270 itself. The number recorded in the shift register 270 is keptrecorded until the next signal S 'is supplied to the re gister 270. Thedelay circuit 250 delays the delivery of the signal S so that the shiftregister 270 can finish the recording of the number recorded in thecounter 260 before the signal 8., reaches the input connector 262 of thecounter 260. When the signal S, is supplied to the input connector 262,the counter 260 clears the number recorded therein so that the counter260 can start counting the number of the clock pulse P from zero whenthe pulse P is supplied to the flip-flop circuit 220. The number.recorded in the shift register 270 is proportional to the time 1'.Groups of the clock pulses I passed by the AND gate 240 to the counter260 according to the time 1' are shown in FIG. 2b. The D-A convefier286produces a voltage E proportional to the number recorded in the shiftregister 270. As the number recorded in the shift register 270 isproportional to the time 1', and as the time 1- is proportional to theangle 0, therefore, the voltage E is proportional to the angle 0. E isshown in FIG. 2i, and is supplied to the terminal 282 by way of theoutput connector 281. The clearing signal generator is also connected toa third input connector 273 of the shift register 270. When the signalS, is supplied to the input connector 273, the shift register 270 clearsthe number recorded therein. Consequently, at this time E becomes zero.The D-A converter 280 is of the same type as the D-A converter 170, andthe counter 260 is also of the same type as the counter 160.

There are several ways of disposing the laser beam rotation center 23and the laser beam detector 31 with respect to the track measurementstarting plane and the test course as shown in FIG. 7a through 7e.Referring to FIG. 7a through 7e, the distance from the laser beamrotation center 23, which is also designated as O in FIG. 7a through 7e,to the track measurement starting plane, which is defined by the pointsT and S, is designated as X The distance from the vehicle represented bythe position P of the receiving antenna 110 and the laser beam detector213 to the track measurement starting plane is designated as X Thedistance measured along the lateral axis of the course from the point Prepresenting the vehicle to the reference vertical plane defined by thepoint 0 and the laser beam detector 31 is designated as YMathematically, if the distance X and the angle 0 are given, the point Prepresenting the vehicle is completely determined. Since voltages B andB are proportional to X and 6 respectively, B and E can be used for thereal-time drawing of the vehicular track on a paper, or for such furtherprocessing as computation, or for recording of the voltages themselves.

From practical viewpoint, a voltage proportional to Y is useful for thereal-time recording of the track. Because the voltage proportional to Ymakes the use of the X-Y plotter possible for drawing of the track on apaper.

In FIG. 7a, OX and CY show X and Y axes. The distance Y is given by IfX, is big enough to make 6 sufficiently small so that tam) can bereplaced by 0 (radian), Y is given by The maximum error 8, of thesubstitution of 0 for tan() is given by -arctan 5 X X (2) where D widthof the test course.

Usually the maximum allowable error 8(%) of the substitution of 6 fortan 0 is given, and X is chosen so that 6, 8.

In FIG. 7b and 7d, Y,, is given by Y, x, X,,)tan6, x, X,,)tan6 where 0,angle contained by a reference vertical plane and a vertical plane OFwith respect to the course parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecourse and containing the point 0; 6 angle contained by the verticalplane OF and a vertical plane OP with respect to the course containingthe point 0 and the antenna 110 and the detector 213 represented by thepoint P. Since 6 0, 0 if 6, and 6 are small, Y is given by v 1+ 2) x,X,,)0

The error 8, is given by the formula (2) wherein D is replaced bywhichever is bigger between D and D where D distance from a line ofintersection of the reference vertical plane and the extension of thetrack measurement starting plane to the vertical plane 0F; and Ddistance from the point S to the vertical plane 0F.

In FIG. 7c, Y is given by Since 6= 0 6,, is X, is big enough, I, isgiven by 8 is given by the formula (2) wherein D is replaced by D InFIG. two examples of the position of the laser beam detector 31 areshown.

In FIG. 7e, if X,, is sufficiently big, I, is given by the formula (1)and 8, is given by the formula (2) wherein D is replaced by D,.

In any way, when 8 is given, and if X is chosen so that 8, 6, then Y, isgiven by the formula (1) with an error not more than 8. Consequently, anvoltage Ey proportional to Y is produced by multiplying the sum of thevoltage E and a voltage E proportional to X, by the voltage Egwith anerror not more than 8. In other words, Ey is given by EV" Xo EXHJEB Inone embodiment for the slalom test of the vehicle adopting thedisposition shown in FIG. 7d, the track measurement section of the testcourse is l5 meters wide and 300 meters long, and X, is 300 meters sothat the angle TOS is 252.

Referring to FIG. 5, the voltage E is produced by a potentiometer 3H0.An input connector 321 of an analog adding circuit 320 is connected tothe potentiometer 310 and a second input connector 322 of the circuit320 is connected to the output connector 171 of the D-A converter 170.An output connector 323 of the circuit 320 is connected to an. inputconnector 331 of an analog multiplier 330. A second input connector 332of the multiplier 330 is connected to the output connector 281 of theD-A converter 280. An output connector 333 of the multiplier 330 isconnected to a terminal 334.

The analog adding circuit 320 adds E to E The multiplier 330 multiplies(IXg'I'EXn) by E; to produce the voltage E E Yn is supplied by themultiplier 330 to the terminal 334 by way of the output connector 333.

The multiplier 330 is of a known type, and more specifically ofquarter-square multiplier type as described in page 266 of Electron-TubeCircuit by S. Seely, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1959, and in page280 of Electronic Analog Computers by G. A. Korn et al., McGraw-HillBook Co., New York, 1956.

The voltages E and E are supplied from the terminals 172 and 334,respectively, to the drawing device such as a X-Y plotter for thereal-time drawing of 'the vehicular track on a paper, or to the recordersuch as a magnetic recorder for recording the voltages themselves, or tothe computer for further computation. (All these recording devices orcomputers are not shown in the drawing.)

When the reference vertical plane is not parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the course, that is, t9, is not zero as shown in FIG. 7b through7e, the direct feedingof the voltages E and E to the 'X-Y plotter causesthe deviation of the recorded vehicular track from the actual track.Because the X-Y plotter plots the point P on a paper in such a way as ifthe reference vertical plane is parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecourse. Therefore, if the reference vertical plane is not parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the course, E must be compensated to yield avoltage proportional to a distance from the point P to a vertical planewith respect to the course parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecourse such as the vertical plane OF before E and E are fed to the X-Yplotter. if the 0, is small enough to make it possible to neglect thedeviation of the recorded vehicular track from the actual vehiculartrack, the compensation of Ey is not necessary and such small deviationis included in the measurement error.

It is claimed:

1. Apparatus for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a testcourse, comprising: means for generating above said course standingradio waves whose direction of wave propagation is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said course; first generating means having a firstreceiving antenna and mounted on said vehicle for generating a firstvoltage proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna toa track measurement starting plane established on said course so as tobe perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course, said firstgenerating means including means for counting the number of half-wavesof said standing radio waves crossed by said vehicle after said vehiclecrosses said track measurement starting plane and means for convertingthe count of said number of halfwaves into a first analog signal; meansfor scanning said course with a laser beam, said scanning meansincluding means for moving said scanning laser beam at an angularvelocity measured in a horizontal plane with respect to said course;means mounted beside said course including a first laser'beam detectorfor generating and transmitting a signal to said vehicle when saidscanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; secondgenerating means mounted on said vehicle and including signal receivermeans and a second laser beam detector for generating a second voltageproportional to an angle contained by a first vertical plane withrespect to said course containing a center of rotation of the horizontalcomponent of said scanning laser beam movement and said first laser beamdetector and a second vertical plane with respect to said coursecontaining said rotation center and said second laser beam detector,said second generating means including means for counting the timeelapsed after said signal receiver means receives said signal until saidscanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector and means forconverting the count of said elapsed time into a second analog signal.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first voltagegenerating means comprises, in combination: means including said firstreceiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclicchange of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of saidstanding radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to saidfirst electric pulse generating means for passing said first electricpulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane;means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the numberof said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter meansconnected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing saidfirst voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result ofsaid first electric pulse counting means.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said wave generating meanscomprises, in combination: a highfrequency oscillator; and a pair oftransmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator anddisposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said courseat both ends of said course facing each other.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a first laserbeam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said trackmeasurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, incombination: means including a third laser beam detector for generatinga second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said thirdlaser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said secondelectric pulse generating means and having an output connector, saidfirst flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said firstflip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuitreceives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulsegenerating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connectorconnected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive saidfirst electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connectedwith said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said firstflip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connectorconnected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby saidfirst AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electricpulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said firstflip-flop circuit output.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said wave generating meanscomprises, in combination: a highfrequency oscillator; and a pair oftransmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator anddisposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said courseat both ends of said course facing each other.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second voltagegenerating means comprises, in combination: means for generating clockpulses; means including said signal receiver means and said second laserbeam detector and having an input connector connected with said clockpulse generating means and a first and a second output connectors forpassing said clock pulses continuously after said I signal receivermeans receives said signal until said scanning laser beam hits saidsecond laser beam detector and generating a first electric signal aftersaid scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector, saidclock pulses being passed through said passing means first outputconnector, said first electric signal being supplied to said passingmeans second output connector; means having an input connector connectedwith said passing means first output connector for counting and recordingthe number of said clock pulses; shift register means having a firstinput connector connected with an output connector of said clock pulsecounting means and a second input connector connected with said passingmeans second output connector for recording the number recorded in saidclock pulse counting means when said first electric signal is suppliedto said shift register means second input connector, said shift registermeans cancelling the number previously recorded therein when said shiftregister means records a new number; delay circuit means connected withsaid passing second output connector and with a further input connectorof said clock pulse counting means for delaying the delivery of saidfirst electric signal so that said first electric signal reaches saidclock pulse counting means after said recording by said shift registermeans finishes, said clock pulse counting means cancelling the numberrecorded therein when said first electric signal is supplied to saidclock pulse counting means further input connector; said seconddigitalanalog converter means connected to an output connector of saidshift register means for producing said second voltage which is avoltage proportional to the number recorded in said shift registermeans.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said passing meanscomprises, in combination: said signal receiver means for generating athird electric pulse when said signal receiver means receives saidsignal; means including said second laser beam detector for generating afourth electric pulse when said scanning laser beam hits said secondlaser beam detector; a second flip-flop circuit having (1) a first inputconnector connected to said signal receiver means to receive said thirdelectric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected to saidfourth electric pulse generating means to receive said fourth electricpulse therefrom, and (3) a first and a second output connectors, saidsecond flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous second electric signalto said second flip-flop circuit first output connector after saidsecond flip-flop circuit receives said third electric pulse until saidsecond flip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, saidsecond flip-flop circuit supplying said first electric signal to saidsecond flip-flop circuit second output connector when said secondflip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, said passingmeans second output connector comprising said second flipflop circuitsecond output connector, thereby said first electric signal beingsupplied from said second flip-flop circuit to said shift register meansand said delay circuit means; and a second AND gate having a first and asecond input connectors and an output connector, said second AND gatefirst input connector beingconnected with said second flip-flop circuitfirst output connector to receive said second electric signal therefrom,said passing means input connector comprising said second AND gatesecond input connector to supply said clock pulses to said second ANDgate, said passing means first output connector comprising said secondAND gate output connector to supply said clock pulses from said secondAND gate to said clock pulse counting means.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said first ,voltagegenerating means comprises, in combination:

means including said first receiving antenna for generating a firstelectric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of theelectric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehiclemoves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generatingmeans for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crossessaid track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gatemeans for counting and recording the number of said first electricpulse; and first digitabanalog converter means connected to said firstelectric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which isa voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electricpulse counting means; and said wave generating means comprises, incombination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmittingantennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposedsubstantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at bothends of said course facing each other.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first voltagegenerating means comprises, in combination: means including said firstreceiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclicchange of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of saidstanding radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to saidfirst electric pulse generating means for passing said first electricpulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane;means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the numberof said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter meansconnected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing saidfirst 'voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result ofsaid first electric pulse counting means; and said wave generating meanscomprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair oftransmitting antennas connected to said highfrequency oscillator anddisposed substantially above the iongitudinal center line of said courseat both ends of said course facing each other.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a first laserbeam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said trackmeasurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, incombination: means including a third laser beam detector for generatinga second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said thirdlaser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said secondelectric pulse generating means and having an output connector, saidfirst flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said firstflip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuitreceives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulsegenerating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connectorconnected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive saidfirst electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connectedwith said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said firstflip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connectorconnected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby saidfirst AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electricpulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said firstflip-flop circuit output.

ll. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said scanning meanscomprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillatormounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3)having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposedon said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereofbeing parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and contacting aninscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said discrotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; said secondlaser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of a stillfurther laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillator isperpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance from saiddisc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflected by oneof said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein (1) said signal comprisesa third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting meanscomprises, in combination: means including said first laser beamdetector for generating said third electric signal when said scanninglaser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmittermeans including a further transmitting antenna and connected to saidthird electric signal generating means for transmitting said thirdelectric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes asecond receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means forgenerating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from saidrotation center to said track measurement starting plane; meansconnected to said first voltage generating means and to said thirdvoltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said thirdvoltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distancefrom said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receivingantenna; means connected to said adding means and to said second voltagegenerating means for multiplying said second voltage by said fourthvoltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to a distancefrom said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection of saidfirst vertical plane and said third vertical plane.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the distance X from saidrotation center to said track measureme nt starting plane is determinedso as to satisfy the following formula in order to make an error causedby the substitution of an angle for the tangent of the same anglesmaller than a given allowable limit of error 8 -aretan 2 to thelongitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center;and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said trackmeasurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line ofsaid course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from saidlaser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, if saidfourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and between saidfarther distant boundary side line and said other boundary side line orextensions thereof and either on a side where said first laser beamdetector is located or on a side which is nearer to said first laserbeam detector than the other side, or if said fourth vertical plane isin said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line of intersection ofsaid track measurement starting plane and said first vertical plane tosaid fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outsidesaid defined area and either on an opposite side to the side where saidfirst laser beam detector is located or on a further distant side fromsaid first laser beam detector than the other side.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim l0,'further comprising: means forgenerating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from saidrotation center to said track measurement starting plane; meansconnected to said first voltage generating means and to said thirdvoltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said thirdvoltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distancefrom said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receivingantenna; means connected to said adding means and to said secondvoltagegenerating means for multiplying said second voltage by saidfourth voltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to adistance from said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection ofsaid first vertical plane and said third vertical plane; and wherein thedistance X from said rotation center to said track measurement startingplane is determined so as to satisfy the following formula in order tomake an error caused by the substitution of an angle for the tangent ofthe same angle smaller than a given allowable limit of error 8 where D(l) a distance which is longer between the following two distances: oneis a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurementstarting plane or an extension thereof and said first vertical plane toa fourth vertical plane with respect to said course parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center;and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said trackmeasurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line ofsaid course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from saidfirst laser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel tothe longitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, ifsaid fourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and betweensaid farther distant boundary side line and said other boundary sideline or extensions thereof and either on a side where said first laserbeam detector is located or on a side which is nearer to said firstlaser beam detector than the other side, or if said fourth verticalplane is in said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line ofintersection of said track measurement starting plane and said firstvertical plane to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth verticalplane is outside said defined area and either on an opposite side to theside where said first laser beam detector is located or on a fartherdistant side from said first laser beam detector than the other side. i

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said scanning meanscomprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillatormounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1)rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3)having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposedon said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereofbeing parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and containing aninscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said discrotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; saidsecond-laser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of astill further laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillatoris perpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance fromsaid disc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflectedby one of said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein (1) said signal comprisesa third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting meanscomprises, in combination: means including said first laser beamdetector for generating said third electric signal when said scanninglaser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmittermeans including a further transmitting antenna and connected to saidthird electric signal generating means for transmitting said thirdelectric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes asecond receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal.

1. Apparatus for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course, comprising: means for generating above said course standing radio waves whose direction of wave propagation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course; first generating means having a first receiving antenna and mounted on said vehicle for generating a first voltage proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a track measurement starting plane established on said course so as to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course, said first generating means including means for counting the number of halfwaves of said standing radio waves crossed by said vehicle after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane and means for converting the count of said number of half-waves into a first analog signal; means for scanning said course with a laser beam, said scanning means including means for moving said scanning laser beam at an angular velocity measured in a horizontal plane with respect to said course; means mounted beside said course including a first laser beam detector for generating and transmitting a signal to said vehicle when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; second generating means mounted on said vehicle and including signal receiver means and a second laser beam detector for generating a second voltage proportional to an angle contained by a first vertical plane with respect to said course containing a center of rotation of the horizontal component of said scanning laser beam movement and said first laser beam detector and a second vertical plane with respect to said course containing said rotation center and said second laser beam detector, said second generating means including means for counting the time elapsed after said signal receiver means receives said signal until said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector and means for converting the count of said elapsed time into a second analog signal.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a first laser beam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said track measurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, in combination: means including a third laser beaM detector for generating a second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said third laser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said second electric pulse generating means and having an output connector, said first flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said first flip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuit receives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulse generating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connector connected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive said first electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected with said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said first flip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connector connected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby said first AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electric pulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said first flip-flop circuit output.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means for generating clock pulses; means including said signal receiver means and said second laser beam detector and having an input connector connected with said clock pulse generating means and a first and a second output connectors for passing said clock pulses continuously after said signal receiver means receives said signal until said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector and generating a first electric signal after said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector, said clock pulses being passed through said passing means first output connector, said first electric signal being supplied to said passing means second output connector; means having an input connector connected with said passing means first output connector for counting and recording the number of said clock pulses; shift register means having a first input connector connected with an output connector of said clock pulse counting means and a second input connector connected with said passing means second output connector for recording the number recorded in said clock pulse counting means when said first electric signal is supplied to said shift register means second input connector, said shift register means cancelling the number previously recorded therein when said shift register means records a new number; delay circuit means connected with said passing second output connector and with a further input connector of said clock pulse counting means for delaying the delivery of said first electric signal so that said first electric signal reaches said clock pulse counting means after said recording by said shift register means finishes, said clock pulse counting means cancelling the number recorded therein when said first electric signal is supplied to said clock pulse counting means further input connector; said second digital-analog converter means connected to an output connector of said shift register means for producing said second voltage which is a voltage proportional to the number recorded in said shift register means.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said passing means comprises, in combination: said signal receiver means for generating a third electric pulse when said signal receiver means receives said signal; means including said second laser beam detector for generating a fourth electric pulse when said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector; a second flip-flop circuit having (1) a first input connector connected to said signal receiver means to receive Said third electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected to said fourth electric pulse generating means to receive said fourth electric pulse therefrom, and (3) a first and a second output connectors, said second flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous second electric signal to said second flip-flop circuit first output connector after said second flip-flop circuit receives said third electric pulse until said second flip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, said second flip-flop circuit supplying said first electric signal to said second flip-flop circuit second output connector when said second flip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, said passing means second output connector comprising said second flip-flop circuit second output connector, thereby said first electric signal being supplied from said second flip-flop circuit to said shift register means and said delay circuit means; and a second AND gate having a first and a second input connectors and an output connector, said second AND gate first input connector being connected with said second flip-flop circuit first output connector to receive said second electric signal therefrom, said passing means input connector comprising said second AND gate second input connector to supply said clock pulses to said second AND gate, said passing means first output connector comprising said second AND gate output connector to supply said clock pulses from said second AND gate to said clock pulse counting means.
 8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means; and said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means; and said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.
 10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a first laser beam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said track measurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, in combination: means including a third laser beam detector foR generating a second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said third laser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said second electric pulse generating means and having an output connector, said first flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said first flip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuit receives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulse generating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connector connected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive said first electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected with said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said first flip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connector connected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby said first AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electric pulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said first flip-flop circuit output.
 11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said scanning means comprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillator mounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1) rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3) having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposed on said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereof being parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and contacting an inscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said disc rotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; said second laser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of a still further laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillator is perpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance from said disc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflected by one of said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.
 12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein (1) said signal comprises a third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting means comprises, in combination: means including said first laser beam detector for generating said third electric signal when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmitter means including a further transmitting antenna and connected to said third electric signal generating means for transmitting said third electric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes a second receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal.
 13. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said first voltage generating means and to said third voltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said third voltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receiving antenna; means connected to said adding means and to said second voltage generating means for multiplying said second voltage by said fourth voltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection of said first vertical plane and said third vertical plane.
 14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the distance Xo from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane is determined so as to satisfy the following formula in order to make an error caused by the substitution of an angle for the tangent of the same angle smaller than a given allowable limit of error delta (%): where D (1) a distance which is longer between the following two diStances: one is a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane or an extension thereof and said first vertical plane to a fourth vertical plane with respect to said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center; and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line of said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from said laser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and between said farther distant boundary side line and said other boundary side line or extensions thereof and either on a side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a side which is nearer to said first laser beam detector than the other side, or if said fourth vertical plane is in said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and said first vertical plane to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside said defined area and either on an opposite side to the side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a further distant side from said first laser beam detector than the other side.
 15. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising: means for generating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said first voltage generating means and to said third voltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said third voltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receiving antenna; means connected to said adding means and to said second voltage generating means for multiplying said second voltage by said fourth voltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection of said first vertical plane and said third vertical plane; and wherein the distance Xo from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane is determined so as to satisfy the following formula in order to make an error caused by the substitution of an angle for the tangent of the same angle smaller than a given allowable limit of error delta (%): where D (1) a distance which is longer between the following two distances: one is a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane or an extension thereof and said first vertical plane to a fourth vertical plane with respect to said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center; and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line of said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from said first laser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and between said farther distant boundary side line and said other boundary side line or extensions thereof and either on a side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a side which is nearer to said first laser beam detector than the other side, or if said fourth vertical plane is in said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and said first vertical plane to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside said defined area and either on an opposite side to the side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a farther distant side from said first laser beam detector than the other side.
 16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said scanning means comprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillator mounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1) rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3) having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposed on said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereof being parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and containing an inscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said disc rotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; said second laser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of a still further laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillator is perpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance from said disc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflected by one of said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.
 17. Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein (1) said signal comprises a third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting means comprises, in combination: means including said first laser beam detector for generating said third electric signal when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmitter means including a further transmitting antenna and connected to said third electric signal generating means for transmitting said third electric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes a second receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal. 